The last time there was this much controversy over a bat at Yankee Stadium, George Brett had to be restrained from attacking the umpires.

The scene in The Bronx yesterday was significantly calmer than the infamous Pine Tar game July 24, 1983 between the Royals and the Yankees (Kansas City won, 5-4, as the final four outs of the game were played Aug. 18, 1983). Though it was not as explosive, it was odd.

Tampa Bay third baseman Akinori Iwamura and Alex Rodriguez were accused of using illegal bats by Joe Torre and Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon. The chain of events began in the top of the second inning, when Torre came out of the Yankees dugout and talked to home plate umpire Kerwin Danley and crew chief Dana DeMuth about Tampa Bay’s leadoff hitter Iwamura’s bat.

Torre said Iwamura’s bat was sawed off at the top, which is not allowed by major league rules.

“That’s what it looked like,” Torre said after the Yankees held on for a 9-6 win. “That’s the only thing I asked them to check. So be it.”

Iwamura said after the game that he already had his bat checked by umpires in Arizona.

“Even before I left Japan, I sent my bat [to determine] if it’s OK,” Iwamura said. “I think everything’s fine. But I was surprised.”

Maddon said he thought Torre was stalling to give rookie hurler Ian Kennedy, making his major league debut, time to calm down, because he was struggling at the time.

“It was a very opportune time to spring it,” Maddon said of the bat inspection. “We play them I don’t know how many times this year and the bat’s been used every at-bat.”

Kennedy went on to strike out Iwamura, but the drama was not over.

In the bottom of the third, Maddon matched Torre’s maneuver and asked for Rodriguez’s bat after he already hit a two-run homer in the first.

The umpires honored both requests.

“His question involved Alex doctoring his bat to hit it farther,” said Torre, who stopped short of using the word corked. “I was questioning the bat. He was questioning Alex. I’m not sure if it was legitimate.”

On both occasions, DeMuth acquiesced and had the bats brought in for inspection. They were on their way to the major league offices last night.

Neither player reacted like Brett, who had a home run against Goose Gossage taken away because the umpires ruled he had used pine tar too far up on the handle of his bat.

That ruling, requested by Yankees manager Billy Martin, was later overturned and the end of the game was replayed from that point, with the Royals winning because of Brett’s questionable home run.

Yesterday, Rodriguez said he actually thought the whole scene was amusing.

“I hope I get it back because I like that bat,” Rodriguez said. “I’ll send him my glove. I don’t really care about stuff. I’ll use anything as long as I see the ball, I’ll hit it.”

Maddon said his move was more gamesmanship than anything else.

“It’s just retaliation,” Maddon said. “There’s nothing wrong with Alex Rodriguez. He’s a great player. It was tit-for-tat entirely.”